Raila Odinga declares no turning back on Saba Saba rally

Cord Principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula pose for a photo with Steven Kariuki (second left) after he was presented with a nomination certificate for the Mathare by-election to be held in August. (Photo: Tabitha Otwori/Standard)

Nairobi, Kenya: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga reiterated that his Coalition for Reforms and Democracy’s Saba Saba rally set for Monday will proceed as planned and that there was no turning back.

The July date rekindles memories of the 1990s pro-reform protests violently dispersed by police as Opposition politicians and pro-rights non-government organisations and lobby groups fought for the restoration of multiparty democracy.

CORD co-principals Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma Senator) Wiper Democratic Party leader and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka as well as Raila want the security team led by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo to provide “maximum security” before and during the rally. Raila assured Kenyans that the rally would be peaceful and asked them to attend but not infringe on the rights of others.

“Saba Saba rally is still on and we shall give a substantive statement on the same tomorrow (today). It is upon the Government to provide security during the rally,” Raila told a Press conference at Orange House Tuesday.

The CORD leaders said their rallies have been peaceful and the Monday rally would be no different. They downplayed fears that people might take advantage of the rally to cause chaos.

The Opposition has been demanding a national dialogue conference to be held before the Saba Saba rally at Uhuru Park.

CORD said the rally would give Kenyans a chance to propose solutions to rising insecurity, the high cost of living, rampant corruption and their proposal to disband the electoral commission.

“We are asking the Jubilee government and police to ensure that there is peace before, during and after the rally. We are all for peace to prevail in the country. In all our rallies we have demonstrated that we are peace-loving Kenyans,” said Raila.

Raila insisted that the Monday rally has been planned and those supporting the coalition have been urged to maintain peace, law and order.

Jubilee leaders have been leading an onslaught on CORD for allegedly plotting to plunge the country into turmoil with its calls for a national dialogue.

Five Jubilee MPs and two senators even told the Opposition leaders to go ahead with the rally at their own peril.

The Catholic Church has in the recent past expressed concern that the standoff between the Jubilee government and CORD over the proposed rally could see a return of the 2008 post-election violence that left over 1,300 people dead and displaced over half a million others.

However, some Jubilee leaders who were initially opposed to CORD’s calls for dialogue appeared to tone down, saying they were reaching out to the Opposition for talks to end the simmering political tension.

Jubilee Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki announced that he had called the majority and minority leaders of both coalitions to convene consultative meetings.

Tuesday, the CORD leaders regretted that they performed dismally in the recent Bonchari election because they fielded many candidates.

They said Ford People’s Zebedeo Opore won because CORD failed to rally behind one aspirant.

“We have agreed as coalition principals that in any future by-elections, we will field only one candidate from the coalition. We have learnt our mistake and our unity is here to stay,” said Raila.

While presenting the nomination certificate to Mathare ODM candidate Steven Kariuki, Raila dismissed media reports of disunity in CORD over the planned rally.

The Mathare seat fell vacant after a successful petition by Kariuki in the Court of Appeal that nullified the election of former MP George Wanjohi.

Apart from Kariuki, the ODM party, an affiliate of CORD, presented a nomination certificate to Kennedy Ondiek of Kibiri Ward in Homa Bay County.

Raila said politicians in the coalition were making personal statements that did not reflect the official position of CORD, adding that everyone has a right to their opinion.

“We want to assure the public that the coalition is one and we are united as the CORD family. Those politicians depicting disunity are expressing personal opinions, not the position of the party,” said Odinga.

“There are no divisions within the coalition over the planned rally. If there is anyone who has made a statement about disunity, that is not the coalition’s position,” said Raila.

Tuesday’s meeting at Orange House was also attended by senators Johnstone Muthama (Machakos), James Orengo (Siaya) and Elizabeth Ongoro (nominated), and MPs Junet Mohamed (Suna East) and Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i).